Advertise in Public Libraries

Readership Information

Public Libraries readers are responsible for allocating library budgets; they count on PL to help them make smart buying decisions. Use PL to show librarians how your products and services meet their patron's needs.

Advertise in PL to Reach a Uniquely Profitable Market

Public library users include children, young adults, business professionals, leisure readers, seniors, and adult learners. To meet the diverse needs of these groups, PL readers purchase books in English and other languages; nonprint media; hardware and software; automation and security systems; equipment and furniture; programming supplies; and a host of other items that enhance daily library service.

Editorial

Published bimonthly, Public Libraries is the official journal of the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association. Its purpose is to address the continuing education and professional development needs of public librarians and trustees. Feature articles and regular columns deal with current issues and trends in public library service.

Total Circulation as of March 2014: 10,359

PLA’s most recent member survey reported that each copy of PL has a pass-along readership of four people—that’s nearly 40,000 readers per issue!

Advertising Placement

Advertisements are placed according to the mechanical production requirements for each issue. Requests for patterned position of units in the same issue will be accepted for a surcharge of 10% of the earned rate for each of the units involved, subject to mechanical production requirements.

Frequency and Combined Rates

To qualify for frequency rates, contracts are required. Qualification is based on insertions over a 12-month period. Advertisers owned by the same parent company may combine their insertions to earn frequency rates; a master contract is required.

Frequency rates can be earned by any combination of insertions in these PLA publications and electronic products:

Special Rates may also be earned for the same ad running in a combination of these publications and products.

Agency Commissions

Agency commission is 15% of gross for recognized agencies. Manufacturing charges are noncommissionable. There is no cash discount.

Payment

First-time advertisers or agencies are required to pay at the time of the initial order. Other accounts are payable within 30 days of the invoice. Non-U.S. advertisers are required to pay in U.S. currency at the time of the initial order.

Advertisers and their agencies have dual liability for payment. Conflicting agreements between advertisers and agencies, even if listed on insertion orders,are superseded by this condition of the American Library Association.

Copy and Contract Regulations

All advertising is subject to publisher's approval.

Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all printed advertising content (text and illustrations) and also assume responsibility for any claims against the publisher resulting from that content.

Cancellations are not accepted after the closing dates for space reservations. Covers and special positions cannot be canceled. All cancellations must be confirmed.